History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 181

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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The names of the schools in Manchester in 1907 were: Foust's, Hoke's, Eisenhart's, Centre Square, Emigsville, Spring Dale, Lightner's and Augenbaugh's. The East Manchester schools for 1907 were: New

Holland. fifty-two lots and disposed of them by lottery. The town he called New Holland. In 1814 he laid out an additional section of 162 lots, which in the printed deeds, was denominated "New Holland continued." The village is situated on the Susquehanna River, at the mouth of one of the branches of the Conewago Creek, familiarly called "The Gut," and about three miles from the mouth of the Codorus Creek. Some of the first settlers in this locality, in 1734, were Quakers, and for a time, a tract of land was reserved by the Penns for a meeting house. For about thirty years New Holland was known as an important lumber centre. Teams came many miles from the south and west to purchase lumber, which was brought down the river and landed at this point. In 1807, Frederick Day built a large stone house which was later owned by Jacob Lichty, until it was removed in 1904. Mr. Lichty conducted the village store from 1863 to 1905. John Hyder kept the first store. New Holland became a post town named Day's Landing, in 1825, with Peter Dessenberg as postmaster. When a postoffice was es- tablished at Mt. Wolf, two miles distant, the one at New Holland was discontinued.

The names of the streets running at right angles with the Susquehanna on Day's draft, when he founded the town, were King, Prince, Queen, York and Market. Those running parallel with the river were

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MANCHESTER AND EAST MANCHESTER

Water, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth built at York Haven and Goldsboro, and Streets. Plans had been laid for a large town.

In 1905 four tracks were laid through the town by the Pennsylvania Railroad, being part of the main line for freight trans- portation between Philadelphia and Pitts- burg.

The geological formations around New Holland afford a pleasing diversion. Lime- stone crops out on John Wogan's farm, which is valuable when burned into quick- lime. The red sandstone formation is quite prominent. A short distance west yellow sandstone protrudes to the surface. In the bed of the river, and on the cliffs, excellent specimens of dolerite are quite numerous. Along the cliffs on the south side of the stream are twin rocks, forty feet in thickness almost entirely exposed. They are huge specimens of silicious conglom- erate formation. Nearby is a rock of simi- lar structure 100 feet in length, forming an inclined plane with the stream.

Caesarville was the name given to Wago. a collection of half a dozen houses near the mouth of Rodes Creek, where it flows into the Conewago. About half a century ago an aged negro slave by the name of Caesar, who had been freed, dug a cave in a bank at this point, and used it as his place of abode. A saw mill was erected here in 1812 by Frederick Zorger. For many years it was owned by the late Daniel Kraber, of York, and was connected with Eib's Landing lumber yards. At this place, now known as Wago, the four tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad branch off from the Northern Central and cross the Susquehanna over the bridge at the mouth of the Codorus.

Eib's Landing.

Among the early settlers west of the Susquehanna was Peter Eib, who took up the fertile land forming a delta between the

when the Northern Central Railway was completed. As many as seventy-five teams were in waiting to load lumber in one day. For one mile along the bank were continu- ous piles of timber. Excellent shaved shingles could be purchased at $6 per 1,000, and a fine quality of boards at $8 and $10 per 1,000 feet.

During the spring and summer, business was most flourishing. For many years there were three hotels to accommodate teamsters and lumbermen, "Yankees" as they were called, who brought the rafts down the Susquehanna. Lumber was con- veyed on wagons by merchants who owned lumber yards in York, Hanover, Abbotts- town, East Berlin, and as far away as Fred- erick, Maryland. There is nothing now left to mark this, probably the most historic spot in Manchester Township except the dilapidated remains of a few old buildings at a place where millions of feet of lumber were annually sold.

On part of the original Eib's A Paper City. Landing property, about the year 1800, a town was laid out, which the founder, from the number of streets planned, expected to grow into a prosperous city. It was laid out as the "Town of Manchester." Eighty- one lots of this proposed town, 50x100 feet each, were advertised to be sold for the direct tax of the United States, at Harris- burg, December 3, 1818. The town was planned at a time when the lumber and fishing interests of the Susquehanna led many land owners to suppose that their farms were to be the sites of flourishing cities in the near future. Two small houses, long since torn down, and an abutment be- ginning a bridge, is all there ever was to represent the "Old Town of Manchester on the Susquehanna."

The Gut is a regular freak of nature. mouths of the Conewago Creek. As the Sometime, not long before the settlement lumber interests up the river developed, a of York County by the whites, the Big section of his farm became one of the most important landing places for this valuable product along the stream. There was a demand for pine lumber, and from this land- ing place, York and a broad area of country were largely supplied for more than half a century. But the importance of Eib's Land- ing declined when the steam saw-mills were Conewago Creek, on account of high water, overflowed its banks, and cut a deep chan- nel, two miles in length, causing the south- ern branch to flow into the Susquehanna at new Holland, while the main branch of the creek, flows into the river, three miles farther up the stream at York Haven. Dur- ing times of high water, the Gut is a rapid

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

stream, but in dry seasons, it is sluggish owners of islands in the river sold them, but reserved the right of fishing for shad. Lichty's two fisheries, near the mouth of the Conewago were famous, 1,500 shad being caught at one haul there, in 1825. "San Domingo," a small island of two acres surface, had a noted fish- ery. The entire island was swept away by and sometimes altogether dry. Within this irregularly shaped delta, is contained about five square miles of excellent alluvial soil. The "River Gut" is a branch half a mile in length, passing from the Gut to the Sus- quehanna. A singular phenomenon is il- lustrated : When the river is high, the water flows toward the creek, when the an ice flood in 1830. The next in order creek is high it flows toward the river. It down the stream were known as "Santa is a true bifurcation.

Cruz" and "Black Rock." The Indians were accustomed to catch shad here with large nets. In the days of its prosperity, Black Rock Fishery was owned by William Reeser, founder of the town of Liverpool. Haldeman's pool in the Chestnut Riffles, near the mouth of the Codorus, Forge Is- land, Center, Silver Lake, Small Island, and Bald Eagle fisheries were very profitable for many years.

Nothing gave more interest to Shad the river settlements in early Fisheries. days than shad fishing. On ac- count of the purity of the water and the absence of many manufacturies along the river, the shad of the Susque- hanna have long been famous for their de- licious flavor, large size and nutritious qual- ity. From York Haven to the mouth of the Codorus, the limits of the eastern Emigsville is situated along Emigsville. the line of the Northern Cen- tral Railway four miles from York and is built upon lands originally owned by John Emig, a prominent farmer and merchant who had been identified with various interests in Manchester Town- ship. Soon after the railroad was completed in 1851, the station became an active busi- ness centre for the agricultural region sur- rounding. John Emig kept a store and post office, and acted as agent for the Railroad Company for many years and was then suc- ceeded by his son, J. A. Emig. The fortieth parallel of latitude passes through Emigsville, which also lies on the northern limit of the great lime belt that crosses York County in a northeastern and south- western direction. Quick lime for building purposes and for fertilizing lands has been burned in this vicinity in large quantities for the past fifty years. boundary of Manchester Township, there was one continuous line of valuable fisher- ies. The season lasted from five to seven weeks. Usually, if the season were short, the largest amount of shad were caught. The shad pass up the river annually in large schools from the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay into fresh water to spawn. They cease to go up after the middle of June, and sometimes about the first of June. It was an interesting sight for fishermen to watch for a "school of fish" coming up stream, and then row around them in a skiff, leaving out a long seine, made with a network of large meshes, and quickly pull the seine to shore by the skiff, freighted with hundreds of these large fishes. Before catching a "draught" of fish, all fishermen were as still and motionless as possible, as the sense of hearing with fish is very keen, but when a large "haul" was made, it was a grand signal for a triumph- East of the railroad stands the Union Chapel used by various denominations as a house of religious worship. A brick school building of two rooms has recently been erected. ant cheer, and the jolly fishermen were ac- tive in counting the number caught. As far back as 1815, these shad brought as high as twelve and one-half and fifteen cents each at wholesale. Dozens of wagons, Since the establishment of the wagon works and other industries here Emigsville has developed into a prosperous town of 500 inhabitants and is destined to become an important business and manufacturing centre in the township. In 1882, E. K. Emig and his brother, J. A. Emig, began owned by purchasers, were always ready to buy them at that price, and take them fif- teen or twenty miles south and west to dis- pose of them. Some of the fisheries were along the shore, but the most profitable ones were near the small islands. The right of fishing was purchasable. Sometimes the the manufacture of one, two, and six-

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horse farm wagons. They began on a burned in 1896 and the same year the camp- meeting was removed to Penn Grove near Hanover.

limited scale and the business has gradually developed. In 1887 an incorporated com- pany was formed under the name of the Round Town is a hamlet of twenty Round or more houses, about three and Town. a half miles from York, on the York and Lewisberry road. The houses are built nearly in the form of a circle, from which the name originated. Acme Wagon Works, with E. K. Emig as president and general manager. With these increased facilities a prosperous busi- ness has been conducted, employing from ninety to a hundred men in the machine shop and wood working department. The A fine brick schoolhouse was built here in National Tubular Axle Works are situated here. The business was incorporated in 1892 with E. K. Emig as president of the company. I884. Frederick and Peter Kern were among the first to own property at this place. Cigar manufacturing has been car- ried on here by several small factories. In The York Haven Street Railway Com- pany completed its line in 1903 through Emigsville to Mt. Wolf running its first cars on March 21 of that year. The York Sanitary Milk Company conducts a branch of its establishment at Emigsville and has carried on quite an extensive business in the manufacture of pasteurized milk. 1892, Grace Lutheran and Reformed Church was erected largely through the generosity of Samuel Small of York. Two congregations worship in this building. Services under the Reformed congregation have been conducted by supply clergymen. Rev. H. C. Bixler was the first pastor of the Lutheran congregation. He was suc- ceeded in order by Rev. Romig and Rev. S. E. Herring.

Brillinger and Swartz conduct a general store and are engaged in the sale of coal and other products. The post office is kept at this store. Harry Myers also conducts a general merchandising business.

One of the military companies of the township was called the "Manchester Guards," commanded by Captain Rodes in 1834. George Jacobs was first lieutenant, and Jacob Rudy second lieutenant. It existed for seven years. Manchester Town- ship gave 200 votes majority for General Harrison for President of the United States in 1840. In 1856 there were but three votes for General Fremont, the first Republican candidate for the same office.

Emig's Grove Campmeeting Association organized in 1880, met regularly for nearly twenty years in a beautiful grove on the east side of the railroad midway between Mt. Wolf and Emigsville. The association purchased fourteen acres of land from John Emig and afterward bought thirteen more. Large wooden cottages were erected in the form of a semi-circle, amid the deep shades of this beautiful grove. Campmeetings for religious services were held during the month of August under the auspices of the United Brethren in Christ. The bishop of this denomination and other prominent clergymen took an active part in these an- nual meetings.

Foustown is a collection of houses in the western end of the township in the centre of a fertile region.

The village of Mt. Wolf, Mt. Wolf. nestling in a little valley, a half mile northeast of Manchester Borough, has become a centre of trade and industry. Being situated in a fertile agri- cultural region and having recently re- ceived an industrial boom, the future pros- perity of Mt. Wolf is assured. The first postoffice in this vicinity was established in 1850 and was named Mt. Campbell in honor of John Campbell, a prominent law- yer of York, who was identified with Thomas C. Hambly of York and others in the construction of the railroad from York to Harrisburg, completed in 1851. Mt. Wolf is seven miles from York and the grade of the railroad from this place to the "summit," one mile to the south is fifty feet to the mile.

Two years after the railroad was com- pleted from York to Harrisburg, Adam Wolf & Sons opened a store and also began the purchase of wheat, coal and lumber. The business was conducted by this firm, until 1863, when William Wolf the young- est son of Adam Wolf, was elected sheriff of York County, and removed to York

The cottages and other buildings were where he died, before his term of office had

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

expired. Adam Wolf retired from business, tian Rodes built a fulling mill, a short dis- when the mercantile and business interests tance above Mt. Wolf and for many years of this place were continued by George H. manufactured woolen cloths for the neigh- Wolf, until his death in 1900. Since that boring farmers. It was later owned by time the same business has been carried on Zebulon Rodes, a grandson. by his two sons. Henry and George A. Wolf, under the firm name of George H. Wolf Sons. For many years George H. Wolf Co., of which John Wogan was a partner, purchased large quantities of to- bacco, raised in this vicinity. The flouring mill, a short distance north of the town is now run on the roller process plan, and owned by the Kochenour Brothers.

The name Mt. Wolf originated in 1852 when the postoffice was removed from Mt. Campbell, half a mile down the railroad to the store of Adam Wolf and Sons. George H. Wolf was the postmaster for a period of thirty years continuously, except during the administration of President Johnston when Andrew Bongey held the appoint- ment. The postmasters of recent date in order of succession have been Jacob Nes and Henry D. Hoff.

The Church of the United Brethren in Christ was erected in 1870, under the di- rection of Henry Hoff, Sr., John Spahr and Samuel Bear, as the building committee. Including the bell, it cost $2,800. It was dedicated the same year by Rev. William B. Raber. The pastors have been W. H. Craumer, S. T. Wallace, George W. Beatty, Alexander Tripner, A. H. Rice, I. H. Al- bright, Thomas Garland, A. H. Shank, W. Henry Wolf was chosen president of the H. Shearer, J. W. Housman, D. W. Solen- company ; A. H. Diehl, secretary; J. G. berger, M. J. Hebberly, E. H. Hummel-

Kunkle, treasurer; George A. Wolf, Wil- baugh, J. E. B. Rice, H. L. Eichinger, A. B. liam D. Linebaugh, I. Parke Wogan, J. M. Mower.

Rodes, with the officers composed the board of directors. This company has done an extensive business in the manufacture of sideboards, which have found a ready sale. About eighty workmen are regularly of York County was John Wogan, who ob- employed in the three-story building used as a factory.

The Pennsylvania Wire Cloth Company erected a factory 180x90 feet with an annex of 60x90 feet in the year 1905. They began operations with C. L. Hoff, president; W. H. Ottemiller, vice-president ; Henry Wolf, treasurer ; George A. Woif, secretary. These together with W. S. Schroll, M. G. King and H. L. Eichinger form the board of directors.

The Mt. Wolf Shirt Company was or- ganized November 29, 1899, by Henry Wolf. George A. Wolf and C. H. Hummel- baugh. About thirty hands are employed.

The grist mill a short distance north of the village was built in 1813 by John Rodes, children, Jacob, John, George and Ann. George Wogan the youngest of these sons, inherited the homestead farm and late in

a Mennonite preacher. It subsequently passed into the hands of John Gross, George Mathias and J. M. Rodes. In 1820 Chris- life moved to York, where he died in 1878,

Mt. Wolf was known as a village and railway station for a dozen years before it was regularly laid out in 1867 by Samuel Hoff, a prominent citizen of the town. Daniel M. Ettinger of York, made a survey of thirty acres and laid it off into 165 lots. The population in 1907 was 350. Three industrial establishments have recently been founded. In November 1899, the Mt. Wolf Furniture Company was incorporated with a capital of $18,000. The entire stock was purchased by citizens of the town.

The York Haven Street Railway Com- pany extended its line from Manchester Borough to Mt. Wolf in March 1903.

One of the early settlers of this section tained a survey for 318 acres of land sit- uated between Mt. Wolf and New Holland, June 18, 1737. In his will dated December 20, 1747, he bequeathed to the Protestant church 100 acres of land. The balance of his estate was left to his widow Ann and his brother Jacob Wogan. Jacob. Wogan in his will dated July II, 1776, bequeathed to his wife Ann and his son George, an estate of 318 acres. Ann Wogan, his widow, died December 4, 1798. The other children of Jacob and Ann Wogan were: Margaret, married to George Test; Isabella, married to Samuel Day, and Anne, wife of John McCarley. George Wogan, the son of Jacob Wogan, died in 1832, leaving four

Manuel Lichtenberger

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MANHEIM

leaving two children, John H. and Annie. in any plan having for its object the uplift The land originally taken up by his paternal of humanity. He interested himself es- ancestor and now owned by John H. pecially in the matter of improving the Wogan, has been in the family name since educational system of his township. In re- it was first purchased from the heirs of Wil- ligious affairs he was a member and liberal liam Penn, in 1737.

SAMUEL LICHTENBERGER was born on the old family homestead in Man- chester Township, September 16, 1833. He is a descendant of a family of York county whose members have always used their in- fluence for good in the different communi- ties in which they have resided. Casper Lichtenberger, his grandfather, passed his days as a farmer in Manchester Township. George Lichtenberger, father of Samuel, spent his entire lifetime in the same town- ship. He married Mary, daughter of Cas- per Laucks, the Laucks family also having been prominent for generations in the town- ship. Their family consisted of ten chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy. Of the remainder, the two still surviving are: George, a retired farmer of Manchester township; and Leah, wife of Allen Litzen- berger, of Decatur, Illinois. The father of the family died in 1854, at the age of fifty- nine years, the mother dying in 1889, at the age of eighty-nine years.

Manheim situated, in the southwestern section of York County on the Maryland line was laid out in 1747 by authority of the Lancaster court, two years before York County was organized. When Manheim Samuel Lichtenberger passed his youth in the duties which come to the average boy on a farm, meantime securing a good common school education, and developing a physical frame and state of health which made the foundation of his success in later years. On coming to his majority he con- tinued farming with such success as to ac- cumulate capital for investment. As the years passed he improved the opportunities presented, and finally, in 1883, became as- sociated with others in the organization of the Drovers and Mechanics National Bank. Township was first surveyed it embraced a large territory including Manheim, West Manheim, Penn and Heidelberg townships in York County, and portions of Union and Conowago in Adams County. There were a few titles given to part of the present area of Manheim Township under Mary- land authority as early as 1732. The Tem- porary Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland was not run until 1739. During the following three or four years a colony of thrifty Germans from the Palatinate, and a colony of Dunkers or German Baptist He was one of the first board of directors. Brethren from the Upper Rhine settled in

In 1901 he was chosen to the office of presi- dent, in which he continued to serve until his death, January 25, 1905, at the age of seventy-one years. Mr. Lichtenberger was possessed of a keen judicial cast of mind, quick to see the possibilities of a financial venture, but conservative and careful in his investigation before making final invest- ments.

supporter of the Lutheran Church. He voted for and supported the policies of the Republican party.

October 23, 1855, Mr. Lichtenberger was married to Miss Susan Rutter, daughter of John Rutter, a well-known farmer of Manchester Township. To this union were born eight children, three of whom are de- ceased, Frank dying in infancy, Samuel living to the age of nineteen years, and John R. (of Mechanicsburg) dying at home Sep- tember 30, 1905, at the age of forty-four. Those surviving are: George A., of York; Augustus H., Mary F., Emma E., and Charles, of York. The mother of this family died July 22, 1904, at the age of seventy-two.

MANHEIM TOWNSHIP.

this region. Their descendants now own and occupy these fertile lands and many of them still speak the language which their ancestors brought with them from Ger- . many. Michael Danner was a leader among the Dunkers. He was born in the Grand- Duchy of Baden near the historic old town of Manheim on the Rhine. When he settled in this region in 1740 he purchased from the

Mr. Lichtenberger recognized the de- proprietors of Pennsylvania a large tract of mands made upon every citizen of promi- land within the present limits of Manheim nence in a community and was the leader and adjoining townships. When the town-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ship was organized he requested the Lan- caster court to name it "Manheim" in honor Tax List of the city near his home in the Fatherland. of 1783. Two years later Michael Danner's name headed a petition of German signers for the organization of a new county seat west of the Susquehanna. As he was one of the leaders among the Germans in the south- western section of the county, and George Swope of York was the leader among the Germans in that region, these men were appointed two of the five commissioners to lay off the county of York in 1749. The other three members of the commission were all Quakers.

Heidelberg Township was cut off from Manheim in 1750 and then included the site of the borough of Hanover. It was a nar- row strip of land embracing nearly the whole area of what was then known as "Digges' Choice" which was a tract of 10,- 000 acres taken up under Maryland title in 1729. From 1750 to the year 1716, Man- heim Township, nearly surrounded Heidel- berg on the southern, eastern and northern sides. During the latter year, in answer to a petition signed by a number of prominent citizens, the northern part of Manheim was annexed to Heidelberg. The names of these signers were Daniel Dubs, Andrew Garret, Peter Overdier, John Thoman, Christopher Wolford, Conrad Sherman, Andrew Robenstein, Charles Warner and Henry Sherman. By order of the court in answer to this petition, Manheim was re- duced to include its present area and that of West Manheim which was organized in 1858.

In the year 1816 Jacob Albrecht and Valentine Wentz each owned an oil-mill in Manheim; Daniel Dubs, an oil-mill and hemp-mill; Jacob Keller an oil-mill and paper-mill; Jacob Snyder a paper mill; Adam Schleeder a fulling and carding-mill; Peter Reider and John B. Wentz, each a tanyard; Conrad Sherman a tanyard and distillery, and one slave, the only one in the township.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 181

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372